Tottenham Hotspur’s reliance on Dejan Kulusevski has emerged as a particularly worrying sticking point in recent fixtures and that’s because they have largely struggled in attack during his absence through injury.
The Sweden sensation picked up an issue during the most recent international break and missed the north London derby defeat to Arsenal, as well as Tuesday’s stalemate against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.
Reports suggest Spurs will make his loan move a permanent one, regardless of whether they meet certain criteria in the deal that saw him swap Juventus for N17 back in January – and it’s easy to see why they would be happy to pay in excess of £30m for him.
The 22-year-old dynamo has averaged a goal or assist every 114 minutes as he has provided six goals and 11 assists across 29 outings, as per Transfermarkt.
Those around him in the attack – Heung-min Son (one assist), Harry Kane (one assist), Richarlison (three assists) have struggled to replicate his creative exploits this season.
“We are talking about an important prospect. Probably he could explode in the future,” Conte said of Kulusevski to reporters back in March.
“Also because I can see the intensity, the will and the desire to play. As everyday in training sessions, he is a type of player who has it in his mind the target to become a top player in his career and as his manager, I try to help him to improve and believe.”
This sizzling form and now increasing dependency to Conte could see the former Parma loanee compared to Eden Hazard, who was Chelsea’s one shining light in the campaign they finished fifth in the league under the Italian’s stewardship.
Key to his – and now Kulusevski’s game – was that ability to generate chances and be a major threat in the final third.
During the 2017/18 season, the Belgian winger averaged 0.29 expected assists (xA) and 2.9 passes into the penalty box per 90. He also attempted 6.21 dribbles per 90 and registered an 82.2% passing success rate, as per FBref.
These are not too dissimilar to what the Swede put up at the back end of the 2021/22 campaign, where he averaged 0.25 xA and 1.71 passes into the penalty area per 90, which were supplemented with 4.00 dribbles attempted per 90 and 83.8% passing accuracy, also via FBref.
Whilst both players have operated slightly different roles and have featured on two different flanks for Conte, it’s clear that the pair have striking similarities, so it’s no wonder Spurs are now struggling immensely without him.
The 53-year-old’s final season at Stamford Bridge was a disaster but it would’ve been far worse without Hazard’s influence. Now, he’s feeling the effects of not having his leading playmaker available, as seen by the two results since their return from the international break.
Kulusevski, who has previously been lauded as an “absolute monster” and a “non-stop machine” journalist Nima Tavallaey Roodsar, is clearly Tottenham’s most important player in the current squad and system. The sooner he’s back, the better as Spurs have been crying out for a player with his dynamism in the final third.
AND in other news, 101 touches: Spurs’ £50k-p/w “special talent” was Conte’s one shining light in Germany…
